Radical plans for estate

Friday February 5, 2010

The council is asking residents of Fulham Court what they think of plans for a £4 million redesign of their estate.

The proposed works aim to integrate estate homes better with the surrounding local streets, reducing the isolation of Fulham Court which, in the past, has contributed to crime, vandalism and social separation.

The plan is literally to take down dividing barriers across roads and open spaces and physically redesign the landscape to merge tenants' homes better into the surrounding streets.

Tenants are also being asked for their views on building a children's centre to offer more support for working parents and to help those struggling with parenting.

Money the council has received from tenants exercising their right to buy their council houses is being used to fund the work.

Mary Hippolyte, Chair of Fulham Court TRA, said: "Spending money on the estate is showing people the council is serious about improving it. Bringing down the barriers between the estate and surrounding streets will make a huge difference. "I would love them to do something really radical, like build a bridge over the railway so we could walk to the park, but I don't know if the money is there for that. I'm glad they're looking at doing something to the shared areas too."

Last summer 28-year-old Anthony Otton was shot dead in the estate after attending the wake for fellow resident Darcy Bruce, who was murdered outside Wandsworth Prison on May 1 2009.

The incidents were investigated by the Met Police's Operation Trident but no one has ever been charged with either killing.

Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Lucy Ivimy said: "We believe it is possible to make a big difference to this estate.

"Empowering residents through the TRA, giving real support to the fight against crime and greatly improving the child support services for the quarter of residents who live in in single parent households is a good beginning."

Fulham Court is less popular than other estates - 25 per cent of residents have asked to be moved out of the estate and no new residents have applied to move in.

Tenants say graffiti and vandalism are big problems and these are made worse by the layout of the estate.

Anyone wanting to take part in the consultation should visit Fulham Court Community Centre on Monday February 8 between 2pm and 8pm or contact Angela O'Connor on 020 8753 1951 or email angela.o'connor@lbhf.gov.uk.